Girl, 6, is youngest to pass GCSE

A six-year-old became the youngest girl to pass a GCSE when she secured a C grade yesterday in her information technology paper.

Geetha Thaninathan, from Maidstone, who hopes to become a doctor, completed her GCSE course part-time at the independent Ryde College, near Watford, in nine months after attending four hours of classes on Saturdays. She became interested in computers while watching her father using one at home.

Arran Fernandez, from Surrey, is the youngest person to pass a GCSE. He got a grade D in maths last year, aged just five.